(a) Knowingly makes or utters a written instrument which purports to describe the financial condition or ability to pay of himself or another person and which is false in some material respect and reasonably relied upon; or

(b) Represents in writing that a written instrument purporting to describe another person’s financial condition or ability to pay as of a prior date is accurate with respect to that person’s current financial condition or ability to pay, knowing the instrument to be materially false in that respect and reasonably relied upon.

(2) Issuing a false financial statement is a class 2 misdemeanor.

(3) A person commits issuing a false financial statement for purposes of obtaining a financial transaction device, as defined in section 18-5-701 (3), if, with intent to defraud, upon filing an application for a financial transaction device with an issuer, he knowingly makes or causes to be made a false statement or report, which is false in some material respect and reasonably relied upon, relative to his name, occupation, financial condition, assets, or liabilities or willfully and substantially overvalues any assets or willfully omits or substantially undervalues any indebtedness for the purpose of influencing the issuer to issue a financial transaction device.

(4) Issuing a false financial statement for purposes of obtaining a financial transaction device when such device is used to obtain property or services or money is a class 1 misdemeanor.

(5) Issuing two or more false financial statements for purposes of obtaining two or more financial transaction devices when such devices are used to obtain property or services or money is a class 6 felony.

Case Law

When you look at the Statute, you may have questions about definitions of certain words or how the Colorado Court will interpret certain phrases. To answer these questions, Defense Attorney turn to "case law." That is, lawyers look at previous cases to determine how these words and phrases should be defined and interpreted. The best way to locate caselaw for free is to go to google scholar and search for legal opinions involving your charges from Colorado courts. Remember to talk to your attorney about any issues in your case and how the lawyer believes that the issues should be handled.

Colorado Penalties for Issuing A False Financial Statement Or Making False Statements In Order To Obtain A Financial Transaction Device

Penalties

The charge of Issuing A False Financial Statement Or Making False Statements In Order To Obtain A Financial Transaction Device, is categorized as a:

M1 (if one financial statement is issued to obtain a
financial transaction device used to obtain property or
services or money)
F5 (if two or more financial statements are issued for
obtaining two or more financial transaction devices and
such devices are used to obtain property or services or
money)

How to Use This Information

After you have hired a CO Defense Attorney, you will need to sit down with him to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of your case. To begin this process, you should think about what the prosecutor will attempt to show in order to say that you are guilty. This involves analyzing the statute language above as well as the jury instructions (which is the set of instructions that the jury will use to understand the law). This will allow you to get a better idea of how you can attack the prosecutor’s case and build your own case. So to begin, you should understand that the prosecutor will need to prove certain things beyond a reasonable doubt for you to be found guilty. These things are called “elements”.

The jury will be notified of the elements through a set of instructions called “Jury Instructions.” The Jury Instructions will be crafted by your attorney and the prosecutor. Your CO Defense Attorney will mold the jury instructions to your case, adding facts that are specific to the case and omitting unnecessary parts of the instructions.

Please find the model jury instruction for Issuing A False Financial Statement Or Making False Statements In Order To Obtain A Financial Transaction Device below. These will be adapted by your CO Attorney for your case.

The elements of the crime of [issuing a false statement] [making false statements] in order to obtain a financial transaction device are: 1. That the defendant, 2. in the State of Colorado, at or about the date and place charged, 3. with intent to defraud 4. filed [an] [two or more] application[s] for [a] financial transaction device[s] with [an] issuer[s] and -or- 5. [knowingly [made] [caused to be made] [a] [two or more] [statement[s]] [report[s]] with respect to his [name] [occupation] [financial condition] [assets] [liabilities] which was reasonably relied upon] -or- 5. [knowingly and substantially overvalued any assets] 6. for the purpose of influencing the issuer to issue a financial transaction device 7. [and used such a device to obtain [property] [services] [money]] -or- [used two or more financial transaction devices to obtain [property] [services] [money]] 8. [without the affirmative defense in instruction number _____.] After considering all the evidence, if you decide the prosecution has proven each of the elements beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the defendant guilty of [issuing a false statement] [making false statements] in order to obtain a financial transaction device. After considering all the evidence, if you decide the prosecution has failed to prove any one or more of the elements beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the defendant not guilty of [issuing a false statement] [making false statements] in order to obtain a financial transaction device. NOTES ON USE The definition of ?with intent? and/or ?knowingly? should be given with this instruction. Delete inapplicable bracketed material. When this instruction is given, the definitions of “financial transaction device” and “issuer” must be given.

To begin the process of analyzing your case, think about your case from the perspective of the prosecutor. Think about the facts that the prosecutor will have to prove to establish each element. Next, sit down with your Denver CO Criminal Defense Attorney and talk about some of the legal ways that you can use to counter the prosecutor’s evidence. Talk to your attorney about whether he thinks any of the prosecutor’s evidence can be kept out of court. For example, if you were illegally searched, your attorney may be able to keep the things that were found, as a result of that illegal search, out of court. Additionally, talk to your attorney about whether you have any defenses to Issuing A False Financial Statement Or Making False Statements In Order To Obtain A Financial Transaction Device.

Important Notes:

Don’t Forget about Immigration:

If you are not a U.S. citizen, be sure to ask your attorney whether your charges will trigger deportation if you are found guilty or plea to the charge.

Good Luck!

The information in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or as the creation of an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, please contact an Attorney.

Nathaniel has worked in criminal law on both sides of the aisle spending time working for the prosecution as well as the defense. Most recently Nathaniel has represented individuals in violent felonies and drug cases. Prior to this work, Nathaniel handled DWIs, Domestic Violence Cases, Property Crimes, and White Collar Crimes. On the prosecutorial side, Nathaniel has most notably worked in Bosnia helping to prosecute individuals who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Bosnian War from 1993-1995. In particular, Nathaniel helped in the prosecution of military leaders who arranged for the organized murders and rapes of innocent civilians in various towns in Bosnia. Nathaniel is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Northwestern University, and Phillips Exeter Academy.
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